Palm Beach County pushing for more Drug Court money

November 25, 2012|By Andy Reid, Sun Sentinel

Investing more money in "Drug Court" could help avoid spending more to put drug users in jail, according to Palm Beach County Commissioners.

The Civil Drug Court in Riviera Beach sends drug users to court-ordered drug treatment in the hopes of steering them away from a life of crime. But during the past decade, funding for the drug court has yo-yoed between $168,000 and less than $37,000 because of budget cuts and the availability of federal help.

The County Commission recently approved another $40,000 for the Civil Drug Court in Riviera Beach, with an additional $50,000 expected in the months to come.

Commissioners also called for trying to boost the Drug Court budget and finding ways to deliver more reliable funding for drug treatment.

"It's not enough funding. Not enough money to keep it going," County Commission Priscilla Taylor said.

A trust fund fueled by fees and fines levied in criminal cases helps pay for the Civil Drug Court, in addition to other local drug and crime prevention programs.

"Every year it seems like their funding gets less and less," said County Commissioner Shelley Vana, who also called for trying to find more money for the Drug Court.

The Civil Drug Court started in 1991.

It allows family members or a group of acquaintances to go to court and ask a judge to impose court-ordered drug treatment. It also offers treatment for those voluntarily seeking help.

The idea was to help people who have been "unable to recognize their need for treatment" as well as those who want help but can't afford drug treatment, according to the program description.

Under the program, drug users can get drug testing, individual and family counseling and follow-up care aimed at helping people get off drugs and avoid jail. That includes in-house and out-patient treatment.

It starts with a 60-day treatment program, followed by 90 days of monitoring, testing and follow-up counseling.

Paying for drug treatment costs less than the long-term costs of putting someone in jail, said Michael Rodriguez, executive director of the county's Criminal Justice Commission.

"It is successful," Rodriguez said about the Civil Drug Court. "It's getting treatment for people before they get involved in the criminal justice system."

A spouse, guardian or other relative can file a petition asking the Drug Court to impose court-ordered drug treatment on a family member.

In addition to relatives, state law allows three adults with "personal knowledge" of someone's drug abuse problem to ask the court to impose involuntary drug treatment.

Those seeking the court order have to show that someone is a habitual drug user who has lost control of drug use and has threatened, attempted or actually inflicted physical harm to themselves or someone else.